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hi there, i am a US citizen, but am considering leaving, at least for a while. besides the disaster of the bush administration, i am also concerned that i am often penalized when it comes to paying taxes b/c i don't have kids and am not married. the straw breaking the camel's back is the newest scheme to reverse the country's downslide. as hard as i work, the gov't ALWAYS sees fit to take $$ from my pocketbook and give to others who it deems are "worthy" of the gov'ts charity. i will get NOTHING from the gov't scheme b/c i make over 75k/yr. yet, others, some of whom don't even pay income taxes will get up to $1,800 in gov't funds based on their marital status and having kids. i'm tired of working to pay for their benefits.
then i got to thnking, what exactly does this gov't actually do for me? i don't have access to gov't sponsored health care. i may not have access to social security and medicare when i retire thanks to the gov'ts mismanagement. i certainly would use LESS gov't services than would families, yet i am being taxed MORE. the gov't is just basically robbing me and giving me NOTHING in return.

Are other countries the same way? i especially want to know about western european countries or canada with national healthcare systems. how much do they take from your income to pay for your health? would i pay as an individual or would i be paying for the next door neighbor and his wife and six kids too?

i've heard that it is an american trait to stress the "individual", and that other cultures may be more inclined to give up all of their income for the betterment of society. for example, when i saw one of michael moore's movies(fahrenheit, i think), the young canadians that were interviewed said that they wouldn't dream of denying healthcare to another countryman.

i am just frustrated to all hell with being "used" by this gov't to pay for other's children and choices. is there any gov't out there who would tax me fairly?

I am in your exact same situation. Single, no kids and pay a ton in taxes yet get the least in benefits from the government. I will not be seeing a rebate either.

The reason this can go on is that unfortunately we are an extreme minority and have no voice. Like it or not, most people are married and have kids and that is whom the legislation is going to favor. Since someone has to pay for the subsidies people like us who do not represent a large cross-section of the population get the short end of the stick.

What frustrates me to no end is that the $75k cap amounts to redistribution of wealth and a form of welfare. It is an outrage to distribute and waste taxpayer money like this.

I am in your exact same situation. Single, no kids and pay a ton in taxes yet get the least in benefits from the government. I will not be seeing a rebate either.

The reason this can go on is that unfortunately we are an extreme minority and have no voice. Like it or not, most people are married and have kids and that is whom the legislation is going to favor. Since someone has to pay for the subsidies people like us who do not represent a large cross-section of the population get the short end of the stick.

What frustrates me to no end is that the $75k cap amounts to redistribution of wealth and a form of welfare. It is an outrage to distribute and waste taxpayer money like this.

so, would you consider living and working in another country, maybe canada because it's so close to the US. it also seems to be a country that does not waste the taxpayers' $$ on useless foreign wars and at least provides free healthcare to its citizens. it also doesn't appear to be ruled by the bible thumpers that are prevalent here in the US, a more live and let live attitude. i just would want to know more about how they tax people there.

Canadian income tax rates:
15% on the first $37,885 of taxable income, +
22% on the next $37,884 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $37,885 and $75,769), +
26% on the next $47,415 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $75,769 and $123,184), +
29% of taxable income over $123,184.

and compare that with US tax rates:
10% on income between $0 and $8,025
15% on the income between $8,025 and $32,550; plus $802.50
25% on the income between $32,550 and $78,850; plus $4,481.25
28% on the income between $78,850 and $164,550; plus $16,056.25
33% on the income between $164,550 and $357,700; plus $40,052.25
35% on the income over $357,700; plus $103,791.75

And remember that if the Democrats come to power then they will let the Bush tax cuts expire and we will see higher taxes.

Canadian income tax rates:
15% on the first $37,885 of taxable income, +
22% on the next $37,884 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $37,885 and $75,769), +
26% on the next $47,415 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $75,769 and $123,184), +
29% of taxable income over $123,184.

and compare that with US tax rates:
10% on income between $0 and $8,025
15% on the income between $8,025 and $32,550; plus $802.50
25% on the income between $32,550 and $78,850; plus $4,481.25
28% on the income between $78,850 and $164,550; plus $16,056.25
33% on the income between $164,550 and $357,700; plus $40,052.25
35% on the income over $357,700; plus $103,791.75

And remember that if the Democrats come to power then they will let the Bush tax cuts expire and we will see higher taxes.

Hmmm...the Canadian rates look more favorable -- plus you get more (in the U.S. rates, the percentages catch your eye...until you see the "plus" addendums)

I to am single with kids and am sick and tired of paying higher taxes. Why can't I claim head of my house. I AM the head of my house! I do not have kids in the school system but pay taxes for the school system but can't get a tax rebate. Come on now something is incredibly ridiculous about this. We use the least and are taxed the most. I'm so glad to know I am not alone with thinking.

I am from Denmark, a country in Scandinavia, and we pay quite high taxes - but we are also all secured by state heath care, thoug the heathcare seems to be quite worn down some times.
As a single you just pay your tax and gets nothing speciale. parens pay for daycare for children and so on. Singleparents (often sinlgemoms) are entitled to statesponsored tax-reductions or perhaps a cheaper cost of daycare.
But as a general rule - even the young singleperople taxes goes to schools, hospitals and old foks homes and so on.

I'm married but we have no kids so we don't get the extra tax relief, etc. I acknowledge that we do receive benefits from our taxes (in the form of public goods like police protection, FDA, FAA regulation, protection of our country, etc) but some seem to cash in a good bit more.

It seems to me that (as someone alluded to above), its all about pandering for votes. Families with children are the vast majority of the US voting population so they get the bennies. When living in various countries in Europe, I had friends who received special government payments (kindergeld) just for having children - not always needs based income-wise.

Another tax loophole that drives me nuts is the ability to get a tax writeoff for mortgage interest on second and third homes. No problem with the writeoff for the one you live in but beyond that, it does not seem fair and equitable.

Definitely seems unfair to me... married people can "share" the cost of mortgage and utilities. It's more expensive to be single (right? ...or is there something I'm missing?), but yet singles are taxed more! That seems like highway robbery to me, and this happens simple because singles are the minority? Is it a punishment for not being married and on the road to having kids? Ridiculous! I especially feel for single mothers. This is wrong and unfair.

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